Capturing Our Lady's Heart [Commando Cowboys and Renegade Texans Unite 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Read Online Free

girl knew. She climbed over the seat and into Bliss’s arms.
    “Don’t cry. I’ll kiss it all better,” Clara said, repeating what Bliss said to them when they were upset. Then she kissed Bliss’s face and hugged her neck.
    Bliss buried her face in the curve of Clara’s sweet neck. She still smelled like a baby, although this year she attended a half-day, four-year-old prekindergarten class.
    When Alan parked, Bliss got out and sent the children upstairs to take showers. “Clara, I’ll be along to help you bathe. Undress and put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”
    She walked in the kitchen and found Alan pulling out another beer. “You’ve had enough.”
    He took long strides and got into her space. “You don’t order me around in my own home. My wife didn’t, and you don’t.”
    “You have the same stupid opinion of women that Dad had. It’s from the past. No wonder she left you.”
    The slap rang loud. Bliss put her hand to her face. “Did you hit Addie, too?” She hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
    Alan came to the doorway and called up to her. “I’m sorry, sis. Everything is overwhelming me right now, and I’m stressed.”
    Bliss ignored him. She went to her room and put powder on the red spot. He’d hit her hard.
    I'll have to cover it with makeup when I go to town to see about starting my lingerie shop and finding a place to live. I have to leave as soon as possible, not four weeks from now.
    Clara came to her door, naked. “I’m ready, Auntie Bliss.”
    “So you are. Let’s go dump you in the tub.” She grabbed Clara around the waist and carried her to her bedroom and through to the bath. Once the water was running, she sat Clara down in it.
    Suddenly, Clara’s lip stuck out. “I love you, Auntie Bliss, but I miss my momma.”
    “I know, sweetie. You’ll see her soon.”
    “Promise?” Clara’s eyes brightened.
    “I promise.” If I have to take you and the boys there against Alan’s will.
    Once the children were in bed, they went instantly asleep. They’d worn themselves out. Bliss took her shower, put on her pajamas, and sat at her small desk. She unlocked the drawer that held her plans for her lingerie shop and her checkbook.
    The store she’d wanted to rent before had come available again about two weeks ago. There was a small apartment above the shop she hoped to rent and live in. But she’d had to use some of her savings the last two years, and she’d barely had enough when she’d previously planned to open her shop.
    Bliss had studied and made a business plan. It would take months to start seeing a profit. She didn’t like the thought, but Sunn was right. Her only alternative was to borrow from the bank. It would take a huge leap of faith to do all of this, leave the children, move, and start fulfilling her dream.
    I’m going to do it. I’ll go see the landlord tomorrow and ask for a reduction in the rent on the shop and apartment. Then I’ll go to the bank.
    Walking to the window, she looked out at the familiar scene she’d known since childhood. This was an enormous step. If she faltered, Alan would let her fall all the way. Good, she didn’t need his help or want to think she was relying on him to rescue her.
    This was her life and she going to take charge of it, at last.

Chapter Three
     
    Lann parked the truck in front of the new ranch house and got out. Someone had placed hanging baskets filled with red geraniums around the wide front porch. He’d had the porch painted a slate gray, and the white rockers and colorful flowers added a welcoming touch. It looked just as he’d imagined.
    He pulled the key out of his pocket and opened the front door. The smell of fresh paint made him wrinkle his nose. He’d asked Rae and Cassie to come down and see the place, choose the colors, and pick the furniture. He’d seen other homes they did and they had a knack for fitting the owner’s personality to their house.
    The living room had a huge, stone